FITCHBURG — The Choir of historic Christ Church, located at 569 Main St., is preparing to sing a wide variety of special music during its upcoming Good Friday and Easter Sunday services.
This volunteer, intergenerational ensemble consists of about 20 singers who rehearse and sing weekly from September through May.
This year, they will be joined by a nine-piece string ensemble in presenting Richard Burchard’s “The Seven Last Words of Christ”, as part of the Good Friday service at 7 p.m. Friday, March 29.
“Last year’s blending of a major choral work with the traditional liturgy was very well received,” said Robert Potterton III, Christ Church’s Minister of Music & the Arts. “The piece we’ve selected for this year is a recent composition and explores an ancient story in a way that is approachable, complex, and fresh. We can’t wait to share it with everyone!”
All are welcome to attend in-person, but the service will also be live-streamed to Facebook and YouTube.
This year, Christ Church will be sharing Holy Week services with other local Episcopal parishes.
On Maundy Thursday, March 28, St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, located at 79 Cross St. in Gardner, will be hosting a dinner and service starting at 6 p.m.
Good Friday services will be held at Christ Church at noon (spoken) and at 7 p.m. (with music).
The Vigil of Easter will take place at 7 p.m. Saturday, March 30, at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, located at 60 West St., Leominster.
At Christ Church, services for Easter Day, March 31, will take place at 8:30 a.m. (spoken) and 10:30 a.m. (with music). The latter service will feature a Celtic duo, multi-instrumentalist Dan Meyers and fiddler Karen Burciaga, in addition to music from the choir, children in the parish’s chorister program, piano, guitar, percussion, and of course the rousing sounds of the 1928 Skinner-Moeller pipe organ, the largest in the area.
“The midweek services of Holy Week offer rich and varied ways for people to experience the last days of Jesus’ life,” said the Rev. Laura Goodwin, Interim Rector, of Christ Church. “The Episcopal congregations of North Central Massachusetts decided to share these services this year so that people could experience these powerful moments in a new way. We’re excited to be collaborating during the most holy season of the Christian year and welcome all to join us.”
